As we entered week two of the ESL classes, more and more new students showed up. These students were all high school students and older, which pleased me, but it presents us with a problem because they are behind the other students in understanding the Pimsleur CDs. It isn’t fair to the students who have been here since day one to spend time reviewing the first CDs for the newcomers, but it’s difficult for me to see new students struggling so much. I’m thinking that I might offer the newer students the option of arriving a half hour early to catch up on the CDs they’ve missed. This isn’t ideal, however, because the class could become completely disorganized with students continuing to show up at several different learning levels. It would be impossible to keep track of everyone’s progress.
Yadira asked me if I would like her to advertise in more places for the class. I explained to her my concern that, at this point, new people will have a hard time learning if they are at a beginner level. It’s at moments like these that the Master of Arts in Christian Outreach program saves the day. In June of this year, I had to develop an action plan for every week that I would be in Mexicali. I had to create it before I had even confirmed with Pastor Arturo that I could come and teach English at his church. My professor assured me that this 12-month action plan was flexible, given the amount of unknowns, but it would serve as a foundation for the ministry in Mexicali. The bulk of the action plan consists of implementing new beginner ESL classes as more and more people want to learn and as God reveals nationals who can teach. When Yadira asked me about attempting to add more students to the class, I was able to offer up a different idea that will benefit us as leaders, the students as learners, and keep the ministry organized and effective. Remembering the action plan, I suggested that we advertise for a NEW class that can start in January for latecomers. We are still accepting new students to the class, but we need to decide at what point to ask them to wait until January. All of this requires additional planning on our part, so please pray for God’s guidance as Yadira, Pastor Arturo, Sophia and I consider how to organize the classes for the students. Please also pray that God will provide a national who I can train to teach a new class!
I thought I should share more about everyday life here. We eat frijoles a lot (it turns out I LOVE me some beans). The family calls them “explosivos,” which makes me laugh uncontrollably every time someone says it. Ah, the juvenile humor that translates across cultures.
Also, the entire house shook one day last week for about two seconds. There was an earthquake somewhere in southern Mexico that measured 5.0 on the Richter scale. School was canceled for the kids that day. And today there was a little rain in the morning, literally about five minutes of the lightest sprinkle I think I’ve ever witnessed. Classes were canceled again for the kids. I’m surprised at what causes school to close here, especially since I’m still bitter that when I was a student at Holt High School we never had days off, even in the worst Michigan blizzards in history.
This family is loud and “loca,” kind of like my own family acts when we get together. Meals are important family times. With every meal we have tortillas, corn and/or flour. Homemade flour tortillas are the best, but they are a lot more work to make so usually one of the kids runs out for 1 kilo of corn tortillas for 13 pesos. We use the tortillas as an eating utensil: rip off a piece and use it to scoop up some frijoles or chopped up hotdogs and fried potatoes (“wienies con papas”). Every day the family buys only enough food for one meal (but it’s because they rely on income from day to day to pay for meals). Quite different from our routine of storing up food in our refrigerators and freezers. The children are the ones who buy the food, too. One of the adults gives them money and tells them what to buy, and they run out the door to the store at the end of the street.
The children do a lot for their elders, actually. Pour their drinks, get them a folding chair, in general bringing them something that is just out of their reach or in another room. Although I’m encouraged to do the same, I haven’t gotten used to this just yet. I’m told that I’m part of the family, and that if I want something, tell Arturito or Anayeli to get it for me. We do just about everything for ourselves in the U.S.. I don’t even think about it when I get up from working on my laptop to get a glass of water, although one of the girls might be nearby and I could tell her to get it. The book I read titled Serving with Eyes Wide Open encourages short-term missionaries to “be yourself,” but to learn how to respect and participate in a different culture. In time, I’ll learn what behaviors are more or less important to building relationships here.
The biggest challenges I face right now in adjusting to the cultural differences is the lack of privacy and how loud everyone is. Just this week it started to get on my nerves (prayer request!!). I think the fact that the majority of the family lives elsewhere and arrives together at the church in a loud – yet joyous! – mass is more of a shock to me than anything. It takes me a few minutes to adjust to the sudden presence of several people. Serving with Eyes Wide Open emphasizes the importance of perseverance. Only when we persevere through those things that bother us can we grow into understanding, and gain cross-cultural intelligence and work cross-culturally in love.
Also, I’m trying to establish a time of solitude with God. I thought waking at 6 A.M. would be best, but I’m surprised to find someone already awake at that time and bustling about making coffee or doing laundry, etc. It is possible, however, that I can still meet with God at this time with another person in the room. Or maybe I should wake at 5 A.M.!
My favorite time of the day is when Pastor Arturo comes home from work and whoever is present sits down together to eat and drink coffee. I also feel immense joy when the ESL classes end each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Not because they’re over with, but because of the satisfaction of having helped people learn English. Lastly, when Yadira, Pastor Arturo and I strategize about the ESL class, I feel really energized and excited that we’re working together across cultures to serve people with the love of God.
Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers!
By the way, Holy Hotties of Detroit, I found my journal! Actually, Amelia found it for me. When she gave me a ride from El Centro to the border, I left it in her car. When I saw her this past Wednesday at the Mexico Outreach meeting, she returned it to me.
Click on smaller photos to read the captions!
